Natural Gas C5+ Separation Without External Hydrocarbon Coolants
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing natural gas processing methods for removing C5+ hydrocarbons are not compact or safe enough for use on floating platforms or in sensitive environments, particularly due to the use of explosive hydrocarbon coolants and complex equipment requirements.
Innovation Solution
A method involving dynamic expansion and heat exchange processes to efficiently remove C5+ hydrocarbons from natural gas, using a simplified installation with fewer equipment items and no external cooling cycles, which heats and compresses gas streams to achieve effective separation without external frigories.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional cryogenic distillation with hydrocarbon coolants (propane, butane) is used to remove C5+ hydrocarbons, then complete elimination of C5+ compounds is achieved, but safety problems arise due to the explosive nature of the coolants and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the need for external hydrocarbon coolants (propane, butane) from the processing system. By using the feed natural gas itself as the cooling medium through internal heat exchange, the patent removes the dangerous components and their associated storage equipment, thereby improving safety and reducing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the cooling function with the feed natural gas stream itself. The feed gas is cooled by heat exchange with the purified head natural gas, eliminating the need for separate cooling systems and external coolants. This integration simplifies the overall process and removes safety hazards associated with explosive coolants
Solution Approach 3:
The system uses its own feed natural gas as the cooling agent through internal heat exchange. The purified head natural gas cools the feed gas, creating a self-sufficient system that does not require external cooling resources or dangerous hydrocarbon coolants, thereby improving safety and reducing complexity
2Reliability
If conventional cryogenic distillation with external cooling cycles is used, then C5+ hydrocarbons are eliminated, but energy consumption increases and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines the cooling requirement with the existing feed natural gas stream. By using internal heat exchange between the feed gas and purified head gas, the system eliminates the need for external cooling cycles, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining effective C5+ hydrocarbon removal
Solution Approach 2:
The system achieves its own cooling requirement through internal heat exchange without external intervention. The purified head natural gas serves as the coolant for the feed gas, creating a self-sufficient thermal management system that reduces external energy input while maintaining separation efficiency
3Productivity
If conventional processing methods are used on floating platforms, then natural gas processing is achieved, but safety constraints are violated due to the presence of explosive hydrocarbon coolants in restricted spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the explosive hydrocarbon coolants (propane, butane) from the floating platform system. By using the feed natural gas itself as the cooling medium, the patent eliminates the safety hazards associated with storing and handling explosive coolants in the restricted and sensitive environment of a floating platform
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the feed natural gas, which is inherently less hazardous than concentrated hydrocarbon coolants, as the cooling medium. This creates a safer, more inert processing environment suitable for floating platforms, eliminating the need for highly flammable propane or butane coolants
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method allows for a compact and safe processing of natural gas to remove C5+ hydrocarbons, reducing equipment complexity and energy consumption, and enabling safe operation on floating platforms by using internal heat exchange and compression to achieve efficient separation.
Implementation Method 1
cooling of the feed natural gas in a first heat exchanger to form a pre-cooled feed flow
Implementation Method 2
dynamic expansion of the pre-cooled gaseous flow in an expansion turbine
Implementation Method 3
heating the purified head natural gas issuing from the first column in the first heat exchanger by heat exchange with the feed natural gas
Implementation Method 4
expansion of the liquefied bottom natural gas issuing from the first column before its introduction into the second column
Implementation Method 5
compression of the gaseous column head flow in a first compressor and cooling before its introduction into the second separator flask
Data Source
AI summary
The method includes the introduction of a feed flow into a first flask, the dynamic; expansion of the gaseous flow issuing from the flask in a turbine, then its introduction into a first purification column. It comprises the production at the head of the first column of a purified gas and the recovery at the bottom of the first column of a liquefied bottom gas, which is introduced, after expansion, into a second column for elimination of the C5+ hydrocarbons. The purified head natural gas issuing from the first column is heated in a first heat exchanger by thermal exchange with a feed gas. The method includes the compression of the gaseous head flow of the second column in a compressor before its introduction into a second separator flask.